Iran confirms receiving Russian S-300 air defense missiles

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hussein Jaberi confirmed on Monday that Tehran has already received from Russia the first shipment of S300 air defense missiles in a bilateral deal, which is criticized by the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

“Today I should announce that the first phase of the agreement is implemented and the process will continue,” Jaberi said in his regular weekly press conference, according to Mehr news agency.

The announcement came just a day after Ali Akbar Velayati, main adviser of the Iranian supreme leader on international relations, confirmed in a TV interview that the delivery of missiles is being carried out “safely” but did not specify the date.

In 2007 Russia and Iran signed the deal, while Russian leader Vladimir Putin decided to eliminate the veto on the deal in April last year after Iran and world powers reached an agreement on Tehran’s controversial nuclear program.